Night life in the city of Sparks just keeps getting better. Most people know about the Knitting Factory, but just seven minutes away, a whole new venue has opened up in the heart of the Rail City. From the ashes of the former Vixen’s on Victorian Ave. comes The Alley, but dirty, dingy, and dark are OUT inside these walls. Owners Chapin and Jeremy Abts have taken lifetimes of experience in booking, promotion and bartending and have poured their knowledge and a WHOLE lot of cash into creating a great new destination.

Vixen’s brushed steel bar and the funky animal print booths remain, but everything else has been renovated, replaced, moved and improved. Upgraded lighting and sound on a whole new stage plus a well-designed green room show just how much The Alley cares about creating a quality experience not just for the crowd, but for performers as well. The message, Chapin says, is that everyone matters in their bar – no rockstar bartenders or snooty bouncers – everyone wants to have a good time and they know everyone will.

Bartenders are encouraged to experiment and develop their own drinks and specials to serve alongside the generous Happy hour specials. From 3pm-7pm Monday through Friday, you can get $2 domestics, $3 micros, imports and wells, $4 call drinks, and a house favorite, $5 vodka and Red Bull. The drinks are just the beginning- the Alley is looking to help the Truckee Meadows have a good time without breaking the bank. Concert tickets average $10-$12 and can be found a local outlets like Recycled Records or Out of Bounds Board Shop or online at www.inticketing.com.

The new attitude, new bathrooms, and new paint are complemented by new ideas from the creative and eager ownership team. You can expect to see The Alley giving plenty of competition to The New Oasis for popular bands, but you will also see lots of original and unique acts from all corners of the musical world. The Alley has a great, easy-to-navigate website, so you can stay informed about all the upcoming shows and fun promotions they have throughout the week and can get links to their social networking sites as well. The bar is regularly hemmed by a fun, outgoing staff including Dereck, formerly of Fritz’s, one of the area’s most well-known bartenders.

For The Alley, location isn’t everything, but it certainly counts. Starting soon, Wednesdays will be guest bartender nights, and every Thursday they’re hosting free Farmers’ Market after party shows with bands like Larry and His Flask and Hellbound Glory. Their outdoor seating and access to parking make them the perfect summer chill spot, so be sure to stop in and help them develop some signature cocktails to go with their signature style.

By Becca Donato
Photos by Court Leve

Würk is Reno’s latest addition to the downtown nightclub scene. Most of you probably know the venue as Red Martini, but it is now under new management by three Reno area scene builders: Ryan Van Duyn, Bryce Lowell and Megan Hansen. It was time for a change at Red Martini, so the three developed the Würk concept and pitched it to the existing owners.

The management team has brought a new brand of nightclub to the downtown Reno entertainment scene with Würk. They worked with local artist Bazar One to beautify several of the exterior walls with contemporary mural paintings and have brought in trained bartenders who have a strong local following to both staff and promote the bar. Würk has a sense of community when you walk in the front door as you see local art on the walls and local DJs on stage.

Würk provides downtown Reno with a midsize room that can fit approximately 300 people. Many live music venues in Reno lack sufficient space to make producing events cost effective. The Red Martini space was always underutilized, but the new management team and format for music is putting Würk on the map.

Part of their business model is to program music, art and entertainment that will draw a positive-minded crowd to the new venue. Safety is a prime concern for the managing partners being so close the West Second Street bar that has garnered a lot of negative press. Both Van Duyn and Hansen have years of experience bartending in the downtown late night scene. While working at other bars and nightclub venues around Reno, the management team took notes and is integrating the lessons learned into their new business model for Würk.

The new format for entertainment at Würk includes a balance of live bands and DJs. Effective immediately, the venue will program indie rock bands and DJs to perform from 8pm to midnight. After midnight, electronic dance music will take over as the late night crowd begins to ramp up.

“We are trying to bring a downtown San Francisco nightclub experience to downtown Reno,” said Van Duyn. “We are filling a void in downtown Reno that hasn’t existed before.”

Würk had a soft opening in May, and the word is getting out. The management team invites third party event promoters/producers to do a walkthrough of the new venue to get a sense of the stage size, sound quality and capacity of the venue. For booking information or other questions, contact Würk via email at wurkgroup@gmail.com.

RP Tip: Visit Würk on Facebook to view upcoming events, concert and shows. Keep your eye out for their July talent bookings that are certain to impress.

Text by Steve White
Photos by Chris Briganti

The Special wine walk will occur July 24th from 3-6pm for $25pp you will receive a commemorative glass, wristband, wine walk map a chance to win over $300 in prizes. Fetzer wines will be featured and all pre-sales are available through Wild River Grille.

Date:
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Time:
3:00pm – 6:00pm
Location:
Riverwalk District

For more information call 775-825-WALK

This post was submitted by Courtney Barnett.

Q: Why did you decide to start bartending?
A: It looked fun, and the bartenders were making great money and having lots of fun!

Q: What do you like about bartending?
A: Spending time with and meeting so many fun people while hanging out and “working.” Leaving with money at the end of the night is a bonus.

Q: What challenges does the job present?
A: Things can go really bad, really quick when people are drinking, especially when they are mixing it with other recreational activities. The biggest challenge is to maintain a constant warm and fuzzy vibe so that the smiles are maintained on everybody’s faces. I wish everybody had the same goal when hanging out at a bar. Let’s all have the best time ever, hang out with friends, meet new people, interact, dance, have a great time, get home safely, and wake up the next day feeling light and rejuvenated, ready to take on another day. Just like The Black Rock City Allstars sing, “No party poopers in the house!”

Q: Can you tell me about the fun way you dress while bartending?
A: I prefer to wear clothes and accessories that make me feel fun and sexy. It makes all the difference in the world with the way I get to interact with people while tending. I’m a flirt! The summer is coming, and that means more shorts and skirts, oh my! Plus our no pants dance parties [are coming up]. It’s the best ever bartending in your “no pants.”

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: I want you all to come down and hang out at my bar. I welcome all kinds of earthlings, aliens, vampires, ware wolves, and shape shifters. Bring a smile, a great attitude, and let’s rock it! Bar etiquette shows and tells a lot about a person. Regardless if you are a headliner, a regular, or a new face, remember to treat your bartender civilly. No situation should ever create the illusion in your mind that we can treat others any less or boss them around. We are all here to have a good time.

Georgette can be found Wednesday nights at Amendment 21 and most Fridays and Saturdays at the Tree House Lounge. Follow her on Twitter @gcrush for updates.

Text by Juliana Bledsoe

Photo’s by bohocrush.com

When Heather Crow went to the University of Oregon, she intended on becoming a teacher. After working in the school district for some time, she realized there were certain aspects of the profession (not teaching itself) that she didn’t like. During this time, she ran a coffee kiosk and really liked it.

“As long as I make as much as a teacher,” says Crow, “I’m ahead.”

After graduating with her business degree, she bought a kiosk – she hates it when people call it a shack – and transported it from Eugene. Larger than most kiosks, this one was also full of all the equipment she would need to get started.

Moving back home to northern Nevada, Crow wanted to open her business in Sparks, but the city has a no-kiosk law. In fall of 2007, she opened her first coffee kiosk in Reno near the corner of Kietzke and Moana. Though many businesses have not fared well in the current economy, Cosmic Coffee has been doing very well. So well, in fact, that Crow was able to open a second location.

“I feel terrible that other businesses are shutting down,” says Crow. “But this bad economy has made it possible for me to open this Sparks location.”

The rent was lower on her 1400-square-foot building than it would have been in a better economy. She was also able to get local businesses to compete with one another in a bidding war that ensured she get the lowest price possible. And all the equipment in her new location was bought from other local businesses that have closed down.

In an effort to give back to the community that has made it possible for her to open her second location, Crow uses only local products and helps local people. She brews Wood-Fire Roasted coffee, sells breads and pastries from House of Bread, and uses local milk from Model Dairy.

Even the artwork on the wall of the Sparks location was painted by a local artist. Brett Blagen, who works with Crow’s mother, creates paintings with a “fine arts flair.” Crow asked Blagen to paint a sun and moon – the running theme in both Cosmic Coffee locations. The result was an amazing piece of work that will capture your eye the second you walk into the Sparks location.

But Crow couldn’t do this on her own. She has had support from many people in her life, including family and friends. One of her major supporters has been her husband, Aaron Kepler.

“He’s my life partner and my business partner,” she says with a laugh. And in case you’re wondering, she makes at least a teacher’s salary.

The coffee shop in Sparks is open Mon-Fri from 6am-6pm, Sat from 7am-6pm, and Sun from 8am-3pm. The coffee kiosk in Reno is open Mon-Fri from 6:30am-4pm, on Sat from 7:30am-1:30pm, and is closed on Sun. You can also find Cosmic Coffee on Facebook and on Twitter (@CosmicCoffeeRNO).

Text by Michelle Montoya
Photos by Nico Aguilera

Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl ONLY $10: You get 7 Drinks: Bottle of Corona, Shot of Tequila, Bottle of Sol, Mexican Pick Up Cockail, Diry Sombrero Cocktail, 16oz Dos Equis and 16oz Margarita. All for ONLY $10 Plus a costume contest. $100 Mots Sexy and $100 Most Traditional:

May 5th from 5pm till Midnight
Club Cal Neva
38 East Second Street
Reno, NV 89501
For more info: Call 1-877-777-7303

This post was submitted by Phil Kenny.

Get your Tax relief @ the Neva: $10 Bar Crawl April 16th from 5pm till Midnight. 8 Drinks only $10.

16oz PBR, Shot of Bourbon, bottle of Bud or Bud Light, 16oz Sam Adams, Long Island Ice Tea, Shot of Wild Turkey, Bottle of Miller or Miller Light and a Whiskey Sour.

Also $100 Most Traditional Costume and $100 Most Sexy.

Purchase Coupon booklet at any bar night of event.
Must be 21 years or older.

This post was submitted by Phil Kenny.

Hours: 24 hours/day, 7 days/week

JR’s 24/7 is a fantastic little place on the corner of Sun Valley Blvd. and Fourth Ave. It’s a little bit of everything you would expect from a little bar, but a cut above the rest. Video gambling, pool tables, drink specials, weekly events, and great hours all combine together for a delightful place that surprises and delights all around.

The pool tables at this bar really wowed me. I was constantly surprised at the little things that you don’t normally see at pool tables in small bars. First off, pool is only 25 cents to play here all day every day. All the house cues were in great working order to play on three tables that are in excellent shape. They’re all laid out with plenty of room, so you won’t have to make any awkward shots unless it gets really crowded.

Ever have to wait forever to get to the bar? Not at JR’s 24/7. They have a horseshoe bar that really makes the most of the space they have. The bar is lined with video poker machines, which isn’t new in and of itself, but the bar offers a daily high hand bonus of 20 dollars that runs midnight to midnight.

The staff is friendly and polite as is the regular clientele. The bar doesn’t serve food, but they do offer complimentary popcorn. A touch screen jukebox provides music ‘round the clock to round out the senses.

Aptly enough, JR’s 24/7 is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can enjoy this laidback spot anytime. Since they’re open 24 hours, one happy hour wouldn’t be enough, so catch their daily happy hours from 7-10am and 3-6pm. They also have several drink specials posted around the bar.

Starting at 8pm Wednesday nights, the bar hosts a live jam. Described as a kind of open mic night, bring your talent and your voice and have a good time. Friday nights are strictly karaoke, which starts at 8:30pm. Every other Saturday, the bar hosts a live band, and on Sunday afternoon at 2pm, they host a pool tournament. It only costs five dollars to enter, and the bar matches the prize pool.

All in all, JR’s 24/7 is a great place for those looking to have a drink, quiet or otherwise, or play a game of pool without entering a casino atmosphere. They allow smoking inside and don’t have a nonsmoking section.

Get to JR’s any time of day, any day of the week, and take advantage of their gambling, pool, specials, and events. You won’t regret it.

Text by Dan Sullivan

Photos by Arturo Torres

Breaking Away

Sometimes we all just need to break away for a minute – from school, from work, from life. It doesn’t have to be for long or far away. Just enough to catch our breath, fill our bellies, and possibly get a cold glass of beer. We all know and love the places we go to get away for a break. For nearly two decades, The Breakaway has been one of these iconic places for patrons in Reno.

With new owners, a new approach, a soon-to-be-out new menu, and a much-needed interior facelift, The Breakaway is better than ever. The new floors, carpet, paint, and felt on the pool table spiffs it up quite a bit, but not enough to change the feel and atmosphere of the classic Reno bar. Don’t worry; the 99 beers are still on the wall, waiting for you to drink them all.

New owners Lee Gueffroy and Jan Moberg have fallen in love with Reno and have had their eye on this business for quite a while. Gueffroy and Moberg are excited for a chance to provide this community what it deserves.

“I want this bar to be a reflection of what I would like to bring to the community,” Gueffroy says. “An establishment that is fun, relaxing, safe. A place where people can forget about their troubles.”

This is just a great bar in a cool part of town with good specials and a great atmosphere that is free of the pretension and chaos of the outside world. Good food, great drinks, cold beer, pool tables, friendly service, and a comfortable atmosphere are more than enough to keep anyone’s needs satiated. Plus, the daily specials and happy hours are great for anyone looking for a good time and good drinks without draining your wallet.

With an eye out for those who don’t have much time, The Breakaway’s new lunch menu coming out will be great for the discerning teacher or student in need of some good, quick sustenance. For those who want to stay and hang out for a while, the pizza is great and all the other hot foods are perfect for these colder days. Breakfast is also served all day long.

With free wi-fi, The Breakaway is the perfect place to eat, drink, work, and play. For those of you under the legal drinking age, no worries because the eatery is open to you until 9pm.

Be sure to come in on Monday nights from 9pm-1am for karaoke, Tuesday nights for $6.50 pizza, free drinks for women from 9-11pm on Wednesdays, $0.50 well drinks on Thursdays from 9pm-12am, and $2 Coronas on Fridays.

So get to The Breakaway and see what’s new and what has stayed the exact same. I assure you this is everything you liked about the old Breakaway and everything you want in a new establishment.

Text by Grant DeVore
Photos by Arturo Torres

St. Patrick’s Day festivities will begin at Ceol’s at 11am with quality food provided by Reno’s own Men Wielding Fire from 11-11:30pm and entertainment starting at noon and continuing on until midnight. Music will be performed by the Twelve Strings Band from Ireland and from Kieth and Dan of the Blarney Band. Visit Ceol’s website by clicking here.

Club Cal Neva – Saint Patrick’s Day Beer Crawl
Are you looking to spend Saint Patrick’s Day on the cheap this year?  If so, check out the party at the Club Cal Neva Hotel Casino on March 17. From 5pm to midnight, the Cal Neva will be hosting St. Patrick’s Day Beer Crawl.  Read the full article by clicking here

Amendment 21 – Doors at 11am, Food and Drink specials, Celtic Band 317 at 6pm, DJ JDub late night.

Cadillac Ranch – Celebrate with KRZQ’s broadcast of the Spring Forward by Paying it Forward Campaign.  Beer garden at 4pm.

Little Waldorf Saloon - $1.99 Green Beer, $5.50 Irish Car Bombs, $1.99 Killians Pints, and corned beef and cabbage served all day.

Siena Hotel Spa and Casino – Check out the entire property for entertainment, 99 cent green beer and live Irish folk music.

Are you looking to spend Saint Patrick’s Day on the cheap this year?  If so, check out the party at the Club Cal Neva Hotel Casino on March 17. From 5pm to midnight, the Cal Neva will be hosting St. Patrick’s Day Beer Crawl.

Be sure to leave work early on St. Patrick’s Day and head home to throw on some random green clothes. You’ll either want to get an inexpensive hotel room or hitch a ride downtown so that you can catch a cab home later that night. When you arrive at the Cal Neva, you’ll need to stop at any of the five bars on the casino floor and buy a drink coupon book for only $10. This coupon book will provide you with free drink specials at each of bars in the casino.

The coupons will give you the following drink specials for free at the following bars: a shot of whiskey and a domestic beer at the Front Bar, a Killian’s Irish Red beer at the Keno Bar, an Irish Car Bomb at the Cabaret Bar, a Harp Irish Lager and a well shot at the Sports Bar, and an Irish Thunder Cocktail at the Skyway Bar.

If you are strapped for cash, you should try to win the costume contest. Cal Neva is putting up a total of $300 in cash prizes, $100 each for the most traditional costume, for the most outrageous costume, and for the sexiest costume. The winners will be chosen at the Cabaret Bar at 9pm, and you must be present to win. Saint Patrick’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year, which is also karaoke night at the Cal Neva. This pretty much guarantees that you will be entertained.

For additional information on the event and for inexpensive hotel rooms, visit them online at www.clubcalneva.com. Be sure to follow them on Twitter at @ClubCalNeva and become a Fan of their Facebook page as well.

By Steve White

Photos by istockphotography.com

This post was submitted by Jordanne Muldner.

This post was submitted by Jordanne Muldner.

Located at the heart of downtown Sparks, Great Basin Brewery has been serving our community with award- winning beers for over 15 years. It has become a staple for great beer, food, and music in Reno/Sparks. If you’re not familiar with the beers offered here, they have just about any flavor of delicious microbrews you can imagine. They’re known for their Bitchin’ Berry, a crisp and tasty raspberry beer, their popular “Ichthyosaur” (the Nevada State Fossil) India Pale Ale, and their Chilibeso, a pilsner beer with a kiss of Jalapeno and three times gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival. At anytime of the year, they have four flagship beers and four to six seasonal brew-master specials. So, you are sure to find a beer that will hit the spot whatever your mood.

Now, they are proudly announcing the opening of a second location south of town in Reno. Next to Borders bookstore, where the old On the Border used to be, this will be a larger brewery than the current one in Sparks, plus they will bottle the beers there so you can take a six-pack home. In addition to all their usual beer and food menu, they will be adding a pizza oven at this new location for that special craving. A private dining area will be available for parties and special events. The new venue is set to open in Spring 2010, so keep your eyes and ears open for the grand opening party. For more information about the beers at Great Basin Brewery, visit their website www.greatbasinbrewingco.com or email them at info@greatbasinbrewingco.com.

Text by Baldo Bobadilla
Photos by Arturo Torres

Located at the heart of downtown Sparks, Great Basin Brewery has been serving our community with award-winning beers for over 15 years. It has become a staple for great beer, food, and music in Reno/Sparks.
If you’re not familiar with the beers offered here, they have just about any flavor of delicious microbrews you can imagine. They’re known for their Bitchin’ Berry, a crisp and tasty raspberry beer, their popular “Ichthyosaur” (the Nevada State Fossil) India Pale Ale, and their Chilibeso, a pilsner beer with a kiss of Jalapeno and three times gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival. At anytime of the year, they have four flagship beers and four to six seasonal brew-master specials. So, you are sure to find a beer that will hit the spot whatever your mood.

Now, they are proudly announcing the opening of a second location south of town in Reno. Next to Borders bookstore, where the old On the Border used to be, this will be a larger brewery than the current one in Sparks, plus they will bottle the beers there so you can take a six-pack home. In addition to all their usual beer and food menu, they will be adding a pizza oven at this new location for that special craving. A private dining area will be available for parties and special events. The new venue is set to open in Spring 2010, so keep your eyes and ears open for the grand opening party. For more information about the beers at Great Basin Brewery, visit their website www.greatbasinbrewingco.com or email them at info@greatbasinbrewingco.com.

Text by Baldo Bobadilla
Photos by Arturo Torres

If you’re a vampire, then you sure hope so. For far too long, Valentine’s Day has been one of the most miserable holidays on the calendar, but last year, that started to change. This year, it’s going to be even better. On Saturday, February 13, downtown Reno will become host to the second annual Valentine’s Vampire Crawl, with thousands of costumed bar crawlers throwing on their fangs and sinking their teeth into a night of drink specials and great times.

According to event organizer Ed Adkins, who also runs the Reno Zombie Crawl, the vampire crawl was developed as a way to take a holiday that no one really likes and make it fun.

“Every year, I hear people complaining that Valentine’s Day is their least favorite holiday because of all the pressure to make it special, the focus on cutesy hearts, and the general feeling of missed expectations,” says Adkins. “So I figured, let’s take it back.”

As a result, the Vampire Crawl was born, and everyone celebrates the edgier side of romance.

“No one finds candy hearts and frilly cards sexy, but everyone wants a vampire,” says Adkins.

Starting at 8pm on the Feb 13, crawlers are instructed to begin at Amendment 21 to purchase their crawl cup and map. They then can move on to any of the 20 bars that will be participating. On the crawl, participants will enjoy $2 and $3 specials on a variety of drinks, including various beers, Barefoot Wine, New Amsterdam Gin, and others.

Aside from just having fun, Adkins says that a portion of the proceeds from the crawl will be donated to the American Heart Association.

“Since February is Heart Month, we decided that the AHA was a perfect charity to work with on the crawl. Also, it turns out there are no organizations that actively help vampires.”

For costume ideas, Adkins says that he is talking some area shops into stocking up on vampire teeth and makeup, and also suggests looking around downtown shops for vintage clothes.

“Junkee is always a great shop to find vintage clothes, while the Melting Pot is sure to have some really interesting alternatives, and the Chocolate Walrus is always great for the sexier look,” says Adkins.

A limited number of VIP packages will be sold for the night of the crawl that will include an exclusive vampire dinner and burlesque show held at 6pm, drink tickets, and a limo ride home. For more information on the crawl, go to www.renobarcrawls.com or look on the Passport events section.

Also, Adkins says that anyone who RSVPs on Facebook will be kept up to date on new bars joining the lineup, what drink s specials will be offered at each bar and any entertainment or contests that are being scheduled for the evening.

Text by Baldo Bobadilla
Photo by Justin Sullivan

32 Cheney St. | Reno

775.323.3482

http://thehubcoffeeco.blogspot.com

Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-7pm, Sat 7am-7pm, Sun 8am-3pm

At the Center of It All

Located in a converted garage on Cheney St. between S. Virginia and Center streets rests The Hub Coffee Co. And like its name – a reference to the center of a bike wheel – implies, it is a coffee shop in the center of it all.

Owned by Mark Trujillo, who also owns Waldens Coffeehouse, The Hub is an entirely separate business that is more raw than its older predecessor. The coffee shop is a tag-team effort between Mark and his son, Joey.

“Our goal is to introduce Reno to great coffee and a more traditional approach coupled with more modern and progressive techniques,” said Joey. “We want to promote consumer consciousness of what great coffee should be.”

The Hub specializes in serving traditional espresso and espresso-based drinks: cappuccino, macchiato, mocha. They also provide American versions of traditional drinks, including lattes (espresso with more milk than in cappuccinos) and Americanos (espresso with water). The Hub also has a good selection of teas, including chai tea and a green tea blended with brown rice.

Though The Hub is into serving traditional drinks, they also like to experiment with different ways of brewing coffee, including using a filter sytem, a French press (the most common), and a vacuum pot.

“We’ve made the connection with our take on coffee,” said Joey. “In no way is it a new take on coffee, but we want to introduce that take to our customers.”

They also have on-hand interesting eats, including maple-bacon and apple-sausage scones, and traditional pastries, including muffins, cookies, and croissants (many supplied by The Dish Café).

The Hub is the perfect place for people who love great coffee and who want to appreciate what’s in front of them. It’s nice to have a barista who takes pride in and can talk – at great length and in amazing detail – about the coffee they serve.

Find and fan The Hub Coffee Co. on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @TheHubReno.

Text by Michelle Montoya

Photos by Arturo Torres

Now introducing the perfect remedy for a Sunday afternoon. Join us every weekend from 2pm-5pm as we educate you and your friends at your own table about the relationship between food and wine, and the magic that happens when you combine them just right! Walk-ins and reservations welcome. $25 per person, Includes a flight of four glasses with food pairings . Must be 21. Live entertainment beginning at 4pm. Contact Valerie Neish at (775) 284-7455 info@wildrivergrille.com for more information. http://www.wildrivergrille.com

This post was submitted by Courtney Barnett.

Most people cringe at the thought of starting a business, especially a restaurant. Rick Lawson, a transplanted Las Vegas bartender, is not most people. He wanted to live the American dream.

Twelve years ago, Lawson opened Knuckleheads Bar and Grille on the corner of 4th and Vine with the expectation of running a nice quiet neighborhood bar. Little did he know how much it would grow over the years.

What started out in 1997 as a small 1000 sq. ft. bar grew by another 1000 sq. ft. a couple years later, and in 2001, another 2000 feet and a kitchen were added. Knuckleheads has built a steady flow of regular patrons over the years and is always gaining new customers as well, probably due in part to its plethora of bar games, like pool (which is always free), darts, shuffleboard, an internet jukebox, and bar-top gaming.

But the place is now known for its food and its daily and weekly specials. How many places offer a free beer or soda with any shot or any meal over $4.00? On Sundays, you can enjoy a $4.00 breakfast special, a cheap Bloody Mary, and free chili (after 1pm). And ladies, if you want to drink for free, show up on Wednesday nights at 8pm.

Their menu features a pleasant mix of sandwiches and burgers, which are served on a soft French roll. Lawson has migrated from the bar to the kitchen and is responsible for a couple of tasty sandwiches, like the Chicken Cordon Blue and the Chicken Teriyaki with Mushrooms and Swiss Cheese.

In addition to food and drinks, a large back room with a huge stage is used for special events, features live entertainment on most weekends, and is also available for private parties. Sports buffs will appreciate the numerous flat screen TVs that show every major game.

So don’t be a knucklehead… get on over to 4th and Vine!

Text and photos by Bob Carnahan